Sac State baseball and softball teams’ walkup playlists
May 10, 2011
Whether it’s metal, punk or country, a walkup song can be instrumental for ballplayer’s at-bat.
At Sacramento State, batters on both the softball and baseball team approach home plate with a song of their choice played as they dig in to hit. Of course, thoughtful consideration by the players goes into each song selection. The music must be tasteful with no curse words because young impressionable ears are listening at each game.
Once a player has selected his or her song it is cut down to a 30-second to one-minute clip of his or her favorite part. The songs can vary from many different genres from classical to modern, or heavy metal to theatrical soundtracks.
Softball first baseman Alyssa Nakken, junior psychology major, chose the “Circle of Life” from Disney’s “The Lion King” soundtrack.
“I like to be different and I don’t really like rap — its not me,” Nakken said. “Country’s OK, but not for a walkup song. This song fits me.”
The players on the baseball team can be just as creative.
Junior baseball outfielder Eli Davis choose a hit from the past. A song from 1983 by Talking Heads called “Burning Down the House.”
“I decided to do something different,” Davis said. “I was actually just lying in my bed and listening to my iPod and I thought the intro to the song was pretty cool.”
The idea of a walkup song is certainly not exclusive to the teams at Sac State. According to Spinner.com, former St. Louis Cardinal Mark McGwire requested Guns ‘N’ Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle” to be played before each at-bat.
Pitchers also use walkup music to hone their focus and for motivation. Former San Diego Padre closer Trevor Hoffman always sprinted in from the bullpen to AC/DC’s “Hell’s Bells.”
With every player having his or her own song, the traditional pipe organ has been nearly retired as a relic of baseball’s past.
Players at Sac State say their song either pumps them up or calms their nerves in the batter’s box. Whether the song is upbeat or has a slower melody, players such as baseball catcher Brent Hottman use it to focus.
“The purpose of the walkup song is to make the hitter confident in what they are doing and put them in the zone they need to be in,” said Hottman, junior public relations major.
Songs change yearly just as players do, but the idea is still the same.
Walkup songs create a good atmosphere at the ballpark and help put batters and pitchers in the right state of mind – to rip the cover of the ball or to bring the heat.